The Ghana National Amputee Team, the Black Challenge, drew goalless with their Liberian counterparts, the Lone Star, on Tuesday in an international friendly in honour of President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson, the Liberian leader.
The match, played on an artificial turf, offered the Black Challenge an opportunity to avenge the painful defeat they suffered in the hands of the same side at the finals of the 3rd Cup of African Nations for Amputee Football (CANAF 2011) played in November, 2011 in Accra, but that could not materialize. With revenge at the back of the minds, the Black Challenge took control of the game right from the onset, threatening the Liberian defense on numerous occasions but failed to find the back of the net. The Liberians also created a few chances that were warded off by the resolute Ghanaian defense. The situation remained the same until the end of the first half.
Ghana continued to put pressure on the Liberians in the second half, with Collins Gyamfi, Africa’s goal king, and Cephas Anum missing a few chances. As the game wore on, it became obvious that the two sides were heading for a goalless drawn game, reminiscent of the game in Accra which ended 3-3, with the Liberians winning by penalties.
The final part of the encounter was a ding-dong affair until the referee’s went for the end of the match.
Earlier, the President of the Amputee Football Federation of Africa (AFFA), who doubles as the President of the Ghana Amputee Football Federation (GAFF), Mr. Francis Adjetey Sowah, took the ceremonial kick-off to pave way for hostilities. Ghana’s Ambassador to Liberia, His Excellency, Kenneth Asare Bosompem, his deputy and other dignitaries of the mission were in attendance to lend their support to the Ghanaian team, together with other dignitaries.